Montenegro’s Cliffside Monastery
Carved into a dramatic cliffside in Montenegro, the Ostrog Monastery isn’t your typical house of worship. This Serbian Orthodox monastery is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Orthodox world, visited by thousands of people each year. Construction on the monastery began in the 1600s and was overseen by Saint Basil of Ostrog. This incredible structure is more than just a place to pray; it’s a pilgrimage destination for believers, a peaceful escape for stressed-out travelers, and a jaw-dropping reminder of what humans can achieve. Though the Ostrog Monastery is a bit off the beaten path from Montenegro’s typical tourist destinations, it’s certainly worth a visit. The monastery itself is incredible, as are the views of the valley from it.
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There are two parts to the complex: the lower monastery and the upper monastery. The upper monastery (pictured above) is the more famous of the two. When you visit, we recommend parking at the lower monastery and walking about 45 minutes to the upper monastery from there along the paths. However, if it’s too hot, there is a parking lot closer to the upper monastery from where you’ll only need to do a 10 minute walk.
Ostrog Monastery Quick Tips
- It’s free to visit, but you can leave a donation of money, food, or clothes if you would like.
- From October to April, the monastery is open from 5am to 4pm. From May to September, it’s open from 6am to 5pm.
- You can stay overnight at the monastery. At the upper monastery you can stay in a giant bunk room or sleep outside for free, and near the lower monastery you can pay 5 Euros for a smaller bunk room separated for women and men.
- Try to visit on weekdays to avoid the large weekend crowds.
- You should dress conservatively when visiting the monastery, making sure that your knees and shoulders are covered. Many women also choose to cover their heads with a scarf, but that isn’t mandatory.
How to Get to the Ostrog Monastery
The Ostrog Monastery is situated just about in the middle of the country, off the main highway between Niksic and Podgorica. It’s not the easiest place to reach since it’s not very close to other tourist attractions, but it’s still well worth a visit!
How to Get to Ostrog Monastery by Rental Car
The easiest way to visit the Ostrog Monastery is by renting a car. This will give you plenty of time to explore the monastery and the surrounding area and allow you to do it at your own pace. Driving to the monastery from Kotor takes about 2-2.5 hours and from Podgorica takes about an hour. Be aware that the road leading up to the monastery is not for the faint of heart, it’s very windy and at times feels more like it should be a one-way than a two-way.
We rented a car through Local Rent while we were in Montenegro and it was super easy and cheap, and they also let us do a one-way rental starting in Kotor and ending in Podgorica. Driving in Montenegro is great – the roads are wonderful and the scenery is absolutely beautiful all around the country.
How to Get to Ostrog Monastery by Tour
We recommend this tour if you’ll be staying in Podgorica because it also includes Montenegro’s Niagara Waterfall and the Cijevna River Canyon.
If you’ll be in Kotor, we highly recommend this full day tour, which will take you not only to Ostrog Monastery, but also to a number of northern Montenegro’s highlights including the Durmitor Mountains and Tara River Canyon. Northern Montenegro is absolutely stunning, so if you’re planning to be mostly around the coast for your trip, definitely consider a tour that brings you up north.
How to Get to Ostrog Monastery using Public Transportation
We don’t recommend using public transportation to reach the Ostrog Monastery due to time constraints and a lack of direct public transport, but it is possible!
Train + Hiking/Taxi
The easiest way to get to the monastery using public transit is by taking the train from Podgorica to Ostrog Station (which takes about 45 minutes) and taking a taxi or hiking 60-90 minutes from the station to the monastery. If you’re based in Kotor, you’ll want to catch an early bus to Podgorica (which takes about two hours) and then catch the train from there.
Check the Train Timetable Here
Bus + Taxi
If the train time options don’t work for you, you can also take any bus running from Podgorica to Niksic and ask to be dropped at Bogetiči (again, if you’re coming from Kotor you’ll have to first get a bus to Podgorica). This bus ride takes about 50 minutes, and this route has very frequent buses. In Bogetiči you’ll be dropped off along the highway, and there should be taxis waiting to take you up to the monastery.
Check the Bus Schedules and Book your Ticket on 12Go
Staying Near the Ostrog Monastery
While visiting the monastery only takes about an hour and is easily done as part of a day trip, it is set in a beautiful location where you may want to spend a night to relax and enjoy the views. If you do decide to stay overnight, we recommend checking out Hotel Sokoline – it’s absolutely stunning and has beautiful views of the valley. Even if you don’t stay overnight, this is a great spot to come for a bite to eat before or after visiting the monastery!
Keep Exploring Montenegro….
- The Best Things to Do in Kotor
- Podgorica: The Capital of Montenegro
- What to do in Budva, Montenegro in Just One Day!
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
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